Length of grow season for native tree species in different green spaces

Abstract

The grow season length of native species is a good indicator of the changing environment, especially in urban green spaces. The  aim was to determine the  length of the grow season for native tree species in different types of green spaces. Tree vegetation was observed in Kaunas city green spaces and peri-urban forests in 2013–2015. It was found that types of green spaces less affected the  grow season length of pedanculate oak (Quercus robur L.). The differences of the oak vegetation duration between the types of green spaces were not significant for all three research years. The types of green spaces more affected the grow season length of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). The growth duration (for maple 6–12 days, for lime 10–15 days and for birch 5–9 days) was longer in broad street greeneries than in peri-urban forests. All differences of the growth duration between peri-urban forests and broad street greeneries were statistically significant. Pedanculate oak from peri-urban forests had the  longest vegetation in 2013, while the vegetation of small-leaved lime from street greeneries was shortest in 2015. Pedanculate oak is the most suitable tree species to grow in urban parks and street greeneries because it has the longest grow season. Small-leaved lime is the least suitable tree species to grow in urban parks and street greeneries because it has the shortest grow season, especially in street greeneries.